Oscillating shower head

ABSTRACT

A shower head having an oscillating nozzle formed by a helix in a rotating inner tube which is spaced from a stationary outer tube, such spacing being bridged in part by an elongated bar having a slot in registery with an elongated slot in the outer stationary tube. A somewhat square shaped nozzle is formed by the helical groove intersecting the registered slots, and such nozzle osciallates between the ends of the registered slots as the inner tube is rotated. Fluid is delivered into an inlet end of the inner tube for discharge through the oscillating nozzle.

United States Patent Baisch Apr. 29, 1975 OSCILLATING SHOWER HEAD [76]Inventor: Stephen J. Baisch, 809 Hyland Ave, f Kmg Kaukauna Wis 5430Asszstant Examiner-John J. Love [22] Filed: May 23, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT[21] Appl. No.: 472,554

A shower head having an oscillating nozzle formed by a helix in arotating inner tube which is spaced from a U-S. Cl. tationary outer tubeuch spacing being in [5 i Ilit. Cl. 1 part an elongated bar having aSlot in registery FleId of Search 239/97, 222, 225, an elongated slot inthe outer stationary tube. A some- 38, 597 what square shaped nozzle isformed by the helical groove intersecting the registered slots, and suchnozl References Cited zle osciallates between the ends of the registeredslots UNITED STATES PATENTS as the inner tube is rotated. Fluid isdelivered into an 2,695.002 11/1954 Miller 1. 239/225 x inlet end of theinner tube for discharge through the 3.136.324 6/1964 Yendley 239/380 xOscillating nozzle- 3.l46.953 9/1964 Komanns 3.353.752 11/1967 Ranhagcnet a1. 239/538 10 Clams 3 Drawmg Fleur OSCILLATING SHOWER HEAD Thisinvention relates to an improved oscillating shower head in whichdelivered fluid is discharged through an oscillating nozzle formedbetween the ends of an elongated discharge slot. The inventionparticularly relates to such an oscillating shower head wherein thenozzle is formed between a helix in a rotating inner tube and registeredslots formed in the wall of an outer tube and in a spacer bar whichoccupies only a small volume of chamber space between a rotating innertube and a stationary outer tube.

Devices have been developed in the art for spraying liquids or screeningsolids in a fluid body in a device wherein a rotating cylindrical tubehas a helix which successively crosses fixed slots in an outerstationary tube. The successive intersection of the helix and stationaryslot results in a travelling nozzle which oscillates as a result of thedesign of the helix and the rotating inner tube. The art has shownmovement of both the inner and outer cylinder in a spraying head asillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,953. Such devices have been used forscreening a liquid from solids as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,752 whereinopenings are successively generated between the helix and a plurality ofslots. Other representative patents which generally relate to suchstructures are U.S. Pat. No. 3,136,324 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,472.

The state of the art, as represented by the foregoing U.S. patents,illustrates devices wherein a rotating inner cylinder is in bearingrelationship with the outer cylinder. The outside of the continuous wallof the inner cylinder is therefore in constant bearing relationship withthe inside surface of the continuous wall of the outer cylinder. Suchdevices understandably require closer attention to tolerances betweenthe bearing surfaces, as well as increasing the wear. This results in anearlier loss of clear nozzle definition for discrete discharge if thebearing surfaces wear down.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improvedoscillating shower head useful in a wide number of differentapplications for discharging various fluid mediums including liquidalone, liquid from which solids are screened, and liquids and solids.Such an improved oscillating shower head is of improved construction anddesign having reduced bearing surfaces and advantageous selection ofmaterials which in combination lead to long and reliable use.

Yet another object is to provide an improved oscillating shower headwhich allows the economical replacement of parts most likely to incurwear in use, such replacement being quickly and easily performed.

Still yet another object of the present invention is an improvedoscillating shower head of the type described in which a rotating innertube can be provided with a helix of selective right or left handconfiguration, or both, to provide a single travelling nozzle or a pairof nozzles travelling towards and away from each other.

A still yet another object of the present invention is an improvedoscillating shower head of the type described which can be used in awide variety of industrial treatment and cleaning operations, as well asfor novelty and decorative uses, while attaining the advantagesassociated with the improved construction.

Such objects are now attained, as well as still other objects which willoccur to practitioners, by the invention of the following disclosure,including drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the oscillating shower head;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, taken along line2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, along line 3-3 of FIG.2.

The oscillating shower head is seen to include an outer stationary tube4, which is preferably of stainless steel construction. Such tubeencloses or defines a chamber 5. The continuous wall of the outer tubehas an elongated discharge slot 6, and the opposite ends of such outertube are shown with lateral mounting brackets or ears 8, provided withfastener openings as shown.

Inside the stationary tube is shown a rotational tube preferably made ofplastic material, substantially rigid. Such inner tube 10 encloses ordefines a passageway 12, and the continuous wall of said inner tubeincludes a helix 14 which communicates passageway 12 of the inner tubewith chamber 5 of the outer tube.

One end of the inner tube is shown to have a reduced diameter 16 whichend is modified with mounting threads 18. An internally threaded borecap 20 is shown removably mounted on the threads 18. Such a cap providesa removable closure so that auxilliary structures, not shown, can bemounted to such threaded end, if desired.

The opposite end of the inner tube 10 also has a reduced diameter part22, which is longer relative to reduced diameter part or end 16. Reduceddiameter end 22 is modified with mounting threads 24 for threadablyengaging structures, as will be later described.

The opposite ends of the chamber 5 are fitted with annular bearing seats26, which include shoulders 27 for positioning annular bearingassemblies indicated schematically at 28. Such bearing assemblies arepreferably of the sealed cage type having an inner race. Such bearingassemblies are press fitted into annular bearing seats or bushings 26.The set of bearing assemblies, including bushings 26, seal the chamber 5as well as spacing the inner rotational tube 10 from the continuous wallof outer tube 4.

The longer reduced diameter end 22 of the inner rotational tube is seenas having a pulley 30 fixed thereto by means such as set screw 32. Motorand pulley means, not shown, turn the pulley 30 to rotate the inner tubeat selected rotational speeds.

Threads 24 at the end of the reduced diameter part 22 are shown engaginga double socket coupling 34. One threaded socket is seen threadablyengaging threads 24 at the tube end, and the other threaded socket 36 isshown mounting a rotary joint 38. The rotary joint has a threaded end 40which engages the threaded socket 36. A tightening nut 42 secures therotary joint to the double socket coupling member.

The rotary joint member has a stationary housing part 43 which housesrotating part 44. A fluid inlet 45 delivers fluid into the rotationalinner tube from a line or conduit, not shown.

An elongated spacer bar 46 is positioned in chamber 5 between the outerand inner tubes. Such a bar is preferably made of plastic material andhas a convex side 47 which is in fixed relationship to the inside of thecontinuous wall of the outer tube. The bar also has an opposite concaveside 48 which is in sliding relationship to the outside continuous wallof the inner tube 10.

The elongated spacer bar has an elongated discharge slot 50 which isregistered with discharge slot 6 in the continuous wall of the outertube. A plurality of screw fasteners 52 secure the elongated spacer barto the outer tube.

In operation, a fluid line is connected to the rotary joint member 38and driving means are connected to pulley 30. Fluid is delivered intothe passageway 12 of the inner tube, and a portion of such fluid willmove through the helical groove 14 to fill chamber of the outer tube.Such fluid is retained within the chamber by the sealing bearingassemblies at the opposite ends. Once filled, further fluid does notpass from the inner tube into the chamber 5. A valve element 54 may beprovided to flush out any solids or impurities in the delivered fluid.

Further movement of fluid in the inner tube moves through the nozzleformed by the helix 14 travelling along the registered slots. Suchnozzle is of a parallelogram configuration, almost square shaped. Itwill be appreciated that the faster the inner tube is rotated, thefaster the formed nozzle travels and oscillates along the registereddischarge slots. The sweep of the travelling nozzle is from one end tothe opposite end of such registered slots since the helix 14 extends tosuch opposite ends. The formation of such a nozzle is illustrated in theview of FIG. 3 wherein the helix l4, elongated bar slot 50 and outertube slot 6 are all shown in registery.

It is seen that only a minor circumferential portion of the inner tubebears against the concave side 48 of the elongated spacer bar. Thisreduces the total bearing surfaces and the consequent wear. It is alsoseen that the inner tube and elongated spacer bar are relativelyinexpensive because of their plastic construction and can beeconomically replaced when necessary.

It will be understood that for any given helix, the direction of travelof the nozzle can be reversed by simply reversing the rotationaldirection of the inner tube. It will also be apparent that both rightand left handed helical grooves can be provided in the inner tube toobtain a nozzle which travels in opposite directions at the same time.The term fluid is intended to mean liquids, as well as gases, and acombination of solids and liquids. If the solids are sufficiently small,they may be discharged with the liquid through the travelling nozzle. Inanother form, the solids may be screened out by being withheld withinthe passageway of the rotating tube.

The claims of the invention are now presented, and the terms of suchclaims may be further understood by reference to the language of thepreceding specification and the views of the drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. An oscillating shower head which includes, in combination,

a stationary cylindrical outer tube having a continuous wallsubstantially enclosing a chamber,

an elongated discharge nozzle in the continuous wall of said outer tube,a rotatable cylindrical inner tube having a continuous wallsubstantially enclosing a passageway,

opposite sets of sealing bearing assemblies mounting said inner tube inspaced relationship to the continuous wall of said outer tube,

a helical groove in the continuous wall of the inner tube communicatingthe passageway of the inner tube with the chamber of the outer tube,

an elongated bar positioned between continuous wall portions of saidinner and outer tubes, said bar having a convex side to engage theinside radius of the outer tube and an opposite concave side to engagethe outside radius of the inner tube,

an elongated discharge slot in said bar, said bar positioned so thatsaid bar discharge slot is registered with said elongated dischargenozzle in the outer tube,

means on said inner tube to engage rotating means,

and

inlet means for a fluid to be delivered into said inner tube foroscillating discharge through said helix and registered slots.

2. An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 1wherein opposite ends of said inner tube extend beyond opposite ends ofsaid outer tube, one of said ends being said inlet means, said inletmeans including a rotatable coupler element to engage a fluid line.

3. An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 1above, wherein said elongated bar is at least as long as the length of ahelix in the continuous wall of said inner tube.

4, An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 2wherein the means on the inner tube to engage the rotating means is apulley fixed to one of the extending ends of the inner tube.

5. An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 4wherein said pulley is fixed to the extending end having said inletmeans for said fluid delivery, and said opposite extending ends beingthreaded.

6. An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 5wherein said inlet means includes a rotary coupler element mounted tosaid threaded end of the inner tube, said rotary coupler element havinga non-rotary part for mounting to said fluid delivery line.

7. An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 6wherein the extending threaded end of the inner tube opposite to the endhaving said rotary coupler element includes a removable threadedclosure.

8. An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 1wherein said inner tube and elongated bar are formed from plasticmaterial, and said outer tube is formed from steel.

9. An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 8wherein said plastic rotatable inner tube has opposite ends of reduceddiameter, the continuous wall portions whereof are smooth, said reduceddiameter smooth wall portions being mounted in spaced relationship tosaid outer tube by said opposite sets of bearing assemblies, the reduceddiameter portions extending from the opposite ends of said outerstationary tube, the terminating portions of said extending reduceddiameter portions being threaded, one of said threaded ends having aremovable threaded closure, and the opposite threaded end having saidinlet means threadably mounted thereto, said elongated plastic barhaving its convex side fastened to the continuous wall of said outertube, and a valve mounted to the wall of the outer tube for flushing thechamber.

10. An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 9wherein the inlet means include a double socket adapter, one socket ofsaid adapter being threadably mounted to the threaded end of the innertube, and a rotary joint element being threadably mounted to the otherof said threaded sockets, said rotary joint including a non-rotationalhousing part having an inlet for a fluid line, said non-rotationalhousing part being freely mounted to a rotatable part of the couplerelement.

1. An oscillating shower head which includes, in combination, astationary cylindrical outer tube having a continuous wall substantiallyenclosing a chamber, an elongated discharge nozzle in the continuouswall of said outer tube, a rotatable cylindrical inner tube having acontinuous wall substantially enclosing a passageway, opposite sets ofsealing bearing assemblies mounting said inner tube in spacedrelationship to the continuous wall of said outer tube, a helical groovein the continuous wall of the inner tube communicating the passageway ofthe inner tube with the chamber of the outer tube, an elongated barpositioned between continuous wall portions of said inner and outertubes, said bar having a convex side to engage the inside radius of theouter tube and an opposite concave side to engage the outside radius ofthe inner tube, an elongated discharge slot in said bar, said barpositioned so that said bar discharge slot is registered with saidelongated discharge nozzle in the outer tube, means on said inner tubeto engage rotating means, and inlet means for a fluid to be deliveredinto said inner tube for oscillating discharge through said helix andregistered slots.
 2. An oscillating shower head which includes thefeatures of claim 1 wherein opposite ends of said inner tube extendbeyond opposite ends of said outer Tube, one of said ends being saidinlet means, said inlet means including a rotatable coupler element toengage a fluid line.
 3. An oscillating shower head which includes thefeatures of claim 1 above, wherein said elongated bar is at least aslong as the length of a helix in the continuous wall of said inner tube.4. An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 2wherein the means on the inner tube to engage the rotating means is apulley fixed to one of the extending ends of the inner tube.
 5. Anoscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 4 whereinsaid pulley is fixed to the extending end having said inlet means forsaid fluid delivery, and said opposite extending ends being threaded. 6.An oscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 5wherein said inlet means includes a rotary coupler element mounted tosaid threaded end of the inner tube, said rotary coupler element havinga non-rotary part for mounting to said fluid delivery line.
 7. Anoscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 6 whereinthe extending threaded end of the inner tube opposite to the end havingsaid rotary coupler element includes a removable threaded closure.
 8. Anoscillating shower head which includes the features of claim 1 whereinsaid inner tube and elongated bar are formed from plastic material, andsaid outer tube is formed from steel.
 9. An oscillating shower headwhich includes the features of claim 8 wherein said plastic rotatableinner tube has opposite ends of reduced diameter, the continuous wallportions whereof are smooth, said reduced diameter smooth wall portionsbeing mounted in spaced relationship to said outer tube by said oppositesets of bearing assemblies, the reduced diameter portions extending fromthe opposite ends of said outer stationary tube, the terminatingportions of said extending reduced diameter portions being threaded, oneof said threaded ends having a removable threaded closure, and theopposite threaded end having said inlet means threadably mountedthereto, said elongated plastic bar having its convex side fastened tothe continuous wall of said outer tube, and a valve mounted to the wallof the outer tube for flushing the chamber.
 10. An oscillating showerhead which includes the features of claim 9 wherein the inlet meansinclude a double socket adapter, one socket of said adapter beingthreadably mounted to the threaded end of the inner tube, and a rotaryjoint element being threadably mounted to the other of said threadedsockets, said rotary joint including a non-rotational housing parthaving an inlet for a fluid line, said non-rotational housing part beingfreely mounted to a rotatable part of the coupler element.